or, Tickle My Fancy !  -  A Guide To Classical or ‘Traditional British’ Burlesque

Amidst the renaissance of the showgirl-striptease, the art of traditional (known as ‘classical’) burlesquing is in danger of becoming totally removed from it’s own genre. This article is an attempt to draw attention away (just for a moment) from the fleeting frenzy of all things frilly, unravel the misconceptions and cast a spotlight upon the magnificence of what classical burlesquing really was – and still is.

Firstly, it must be understood that there is a problem with the ‘b word’ itself. It is an adjective, a verb and a noun – a name for many faces. The meaning is diverse and it morphs according to where you are in the world, the context in which you happen across it and the angle from which you glimpse it.

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or ‘Tinted, Tainted & Tarnished - A Portrait Of  ‘Golden Era’ Burlesque

A collaborative piece by Kittie and Gypsy Charms with  input from Vicky Butterfly.

Since their emergence in the early 20th century, American burlesque shows have specifically promoted adult-oriented entertainment. In many respects, the early promoters even pioneered the genres within the striptease and burlesque-striptease (as a hybrid comic form). To Americans, such shows would become known generically as burlesque. read more….

Kittie talks about burlesque for the MoB Academy ‘Burlesque for Beginners’ DVD.

‘Gypsy’was born on 9th February, 1914 to Rose and John Hovick, in Seattle, USA and named Rose Lousie Hovick. Gypsy Rose Lee had a colourful career with as much unhappiness as apparent success. Like many striptease acts, she came into the form through an unhappy string of events but unlike most, she ended up a legend.

Gypsy is best known for her ‘intelligent strip tease’ style of performance but she also… read more….

Originally hailing from America, Josephine Baker made her name on the other side of the Atlantic, Paris to be precise, where her exotic beauty and high-energy performance style captivated audiences. Known as ‘Black Venus’, ‘Black Pearl’ and ‘Creole Goddess’, she was a celebrity for more than fifty years until her death in 1975.

Of humble birth to a washer woman on 3rd of June 1906 she was named Freda Josephine McDonald, the infant Josephine had one great rhythmic influence in her life. Her father, Eddie Carson was a drummer in… read more….